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|
EPISODES:
24, including pilot.
LENGTH: 60 Mins.
FORMAT: Mono, Video
and film integration.
PRODUCTION: ABC Production. 1969 (play)
Melbourne, 1970 (series 1) Sydney, 1971 (series 2) Sydney.
RUNNING ORDER: Airdate.
NETWORK: ABC.
CAST:
David
Mason.......KEVIN MILES
Peter Mason.......NICK TATE
John Mason.......RON GRAHAM
Jack Mason.......JOHN TATE (Eps 1 - 10)
'Unk' Martel.......BEN GABRIEL
Patricia Mason.......PAT BISHOP
Jacob Goldberg.......OWEN WEINGOTT
Nigel Dayton.......TONY WARD
Kathy Mason.......ANNE HADDY
Maggie Tench.......LYN JAMES
Christopher Mason.......SERGE LAZAREFF
CREW:
Theme
music.......LAURIE LEWIS
AWARDS:
1970 Logie: Best
New Drama Series.
1970 Penguin: Tony Morphett - Scriptwriting for Dynasty play.
1971 Logie: Tony Morphett - Best Scriptwriter.
1971 Penguin: Tony Morphett - Scriptwriting for episode 12 ‘The Killing
Ground’.
1971 Penguin Commendation: Kevin Miles - acting.
1971 Penguin Commendation: Alan Burke - production.
1971 Awgie: Tony Morphett - Best Script For A TV Drama Series for episode
5 'Cry Me A River'.
|
EPISODE TITLES
~ Dynasty
(play)
Series 1
1. Gran Turismo
2. Catwalk
3. Counterpoint
4. Young Jim Westlake
5. Cry Me A River
6. Paper Of The People
7. Second Pressure
8. The Champion
9. Have You Got The Numbers?
10. When All The Bets Were Off
Final John Tate
Series 2
11. Dead Man's Chair
12. The Killing Ground
13. The Coorabungle Deposit
14. Corrida For A Stunt Man
15. Who Wants A Bridge?
16. Detour To Power
17. Nothing Personal
18. Whatever Happened To Jamie Brooks?
19. Two Reds Don't Make A White
20. Countdown
21. Full Circle
22. Man In The Middle
23. A Half Tone Block Is Black And White
|
~ Dynasty
David Mason.......Kevin
Miles
John Mason.......Ron Graham
Jack Mason.......Brian James
Peter Mason.......Mark McManus
Kathy Mason.......Patsy King
Jacob Goldberg.......Alan Hopgood
Jim Richards.......Terry Norris
.......John Paton
Script.......Tony Morphett
Director.......Oscar Whitbread
Synopsis: Inventor Jim Richards seeks backing from the Mason family for a
revolutionary new machine. However, when different parts of the empire are
competing for capital, can an honest man stay honest? Will the man in the
middle survive? In the ensuing power struggle, Richards is crushed by the
machinations of the Mason empire.
Notes: One of a series of six unrelated ABC plays. Tony Morphett won a
Penguin award for the scriptwriting of this play. Features some different
cast members than appeared in the series - Brian James as Jack instead of
John Tate; Mark McManus as Peter instead of Nick Tate; Alan Hopgood as
Jacob Goldberg instead of Owen Weingott; and Patsy King as Kathy instead
of Anne Haddy.
Airdate:
Melbourne & VIC regional 29/10/69
Sydney & NSW regional 29/10/69
Canberra 29/10/69
|

Kevin Miles and Ron Graham |
SERIES 1
1. Gran Turismo
Larry Conrad.......Bill Hunter
Frank Benson.......Peter Gwynne
Mrs. Blake.......Faye Sharpe
David's secretary.......Lea Denfield
Nightwatchman.......Spencer Pearson
Jerry Blake.......Bob Woodham
Script.......Tony Morphett
Director.......Tom Jeffrey
Executive Producer.......Eric Tayler
Script Editor.......Glyn Davies
Synopsis: The Masons are involved in industrial rivalry between two car
firms. Their photographer from ‘The Standard’, Jerry Blake, dies on an
assignment while photographing the Matthews Automotive Industries secret
project model. Unk and Jack intend to publish photos of the new car in
‘The Sunday Standard’ even though it will mean financial loss for the
Matthews firm.
Notes: On screen scriptwriter credit is David Anthony, a pseudonym for
Tony Morphett.
Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 7/10/70
Canberra 7/10/70
Melbourne & VIC regional 9/10/70
Brisbane & QLD regional 9/10/70
|

Ep. 1: Bill Hunter and Anne Haddy
|
2. Catwalk
Jason Werner.......John Forgeham
Jenkins.......Cecily Polson
Danny Bernac.......John Wood
Georgina Clausen.......Cornelia Frances
Larry Conrad.......Bill Hunter
Freda Murphy.......Leila Blake
Script.......Tony Morphett
Synopsis: The successful glossy magazine for women, 'Lilith', is
threatening the Mason's magazine 'Homemaker'. The Masons approach Jason
Werner, independent publisher of 'Lilith', with a takeover bid.
Notes: This episode led to a spin-off series, Catwalk, produced by
Davies - Morphett Productions for ATN-7. The same guest actors took part,
playing similar characters with different names, except for Cecily Polson
who retained the name Jenkins in both. (See Catwalk section).
Airdate:
Sydney
& NSW regional
14/10/70
Canberra 14/10/70
Melbourne & VIC
regional
16/10/70
Brisbane & QLD
regional 16/10/70
|

Cecily Polson and Cornelia Frances |
3. Counterpoint
Bob Knight.......Don Barkham
Wren.......Ric Hutton
Script.......Glyn Davies
Director.......Frank Arnold
Synopsis: The compere of the controversial MSN-6 current affairs programme
'Counterpoint', Bob Knight, dies as a result of a car crash on the night
he accuses three prominent men of bribery. This causes trouble for Peter
Mason, as Knight's death leaves his TV station without evidence to support the
allegations.
Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 21/10/70
Canberra 21/10/70
Melbourne & VIC regional 23/10/70
Brisbane & QLD regional 23/10/70
|

Kevin Miles and Nick Tate |
4. Young Jim Westlake
Betty Westlake.......Rowena Wallace
Jim Westlake.......Peter Sumner
Ted Morris.......Ken James
Script.......Peter Schreck
Director.......Tom Jeffrey
Synopsis: Jack Mason surprises his family when he commits ‘The Standard’
to cover the election campaign of a young socialist, Jim Westlake, to
Federal Parliament. Westlake is contesting the seat left vacant by his
father's death in a by-election.
Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 28/10/70
Canberra 28/10/70
Melbourne & VIC regional
30/10/70
Brisbane
& QLD regional
30/10/70
5. Cry Me A River
Jeannie Reed.......April Mayer
Robin Forest.......Peter Reynolds
Script.......Tony Morphett
Synopsis: Peter Mason brings the controversial American singer, Jeannie
Reed, to Australia to make a TV special for Channel 6. He is determined
to protect his show by avoiding sensational newspaper stories.
Notes: Tony Morphett was joint winner of an Awgie Award for Best Script
For A TV Drama Series (1971) for this episode (shared with John Dingwall
for Division 4 episode 54 'Johnny Reb').
Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 4/11/70
Canberra 4/11/70
Melbourne & VIC regional 6/11/70
Brisbane & QLD regional 6/11/70
|

Nick Tate, John Tate, Ron Graham and Kevin
Miles |
6. Paper Of The People
Athol McCauley.......Frankie Davidson
Script.......John Dingwall
Director.......Frank Arnold
Synopsis: John Mason challenges his father's policy for the family
newspaper, ‘The Standard’. John wants roundsmen to have by-lines, and be
able to write their own stories in their own style, while Jack Mason
believes he has the only right to decide what will or will not be printed.
Notes: The script for this episode was included in Close-Up, a textbook
for media students.
Airdate:
Sydney
& NSW regional
11/11/70
Canberra 11/11/70
Melbourne
& VIC regional 13/11/70
Brisbane & QLD regional
13/11/70
|

Ep. 6: Kevin Miles, Nick Tate, John Tate,
Frankie Davidson, Ron Graham and Owen Weingott |
7. Second Pressure
Jamie Brooks.......Gerard Maguire
Mrs. Brooks.......Vivienne Benson-Young
Creighton Ransome.......John Gregg
Ambassador.......Alister Smart
General Rahim.......Jim Clifford
Police radio operator.......Bob Haddow
Reporter.......Kevin Golsby
.......Janie Stewart
Script.......Tony Morphett
Director.......Eric Tayler
Synopsis: The Mason's daily newspaper, ‘The Standard’, opposes the visit
to Australia of the Cathanese Head of State, General Rahim, alleging that
he was responsible for the killing of 30,000 political prisoners. Their headline
“Welcome Butcher” is echoed in the “Butcher Rahim” placards of an angry
crowd of demonstrators who greet the visitor at Sydney airport. In an
ensuing shuffle, the General is shot by Jamie Brooks.
Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 18/11/70
Canberra 18/11/70
Melbourne & VIC regional 20/11/70
Brisbane & QLD regional 20/11/70
|

Ep. 7: Vivienne Benson-Young |
8. The Champion
Sir Warren Tasker.......Ewan Solon
Joey Saragat.......Tony Zervos
Tommy Keneally.......'Bronco' Hourigan
Script.......Tony Morphett
Synopsis: Sir Warren Tasker, head of Coriolan Motors, wagers a fleet of
delivery trucks against six months free advertising with Jack Mason, that
he can find a fighter to beat Channel 6's 'Fight Night' champion, Joey
Saragat. He hires a young fighter, Tommy Keneally.
Airdate:
Sydney & NSW
regional 25/11/70
Canberra 25/11/70
Melbourne
& VIC regional 27/11/70
Brisbane & QLD regional
27/11/70
|

John Tate, Owen Weingott and Kevin Miles |
9. Have You Got The Numbers?
Wilson.......Jeff Ashby
Jim.......Reg Evans
Script.......Tony Morphett
Director.......Brian Bell
Executive Producer.......Alan Burke
Script Editor.......Glyn Davies
Synopsis: The Mason family power struggle intensifies when John Mason,
angered by his father's high-handed interference in editing their daily
paper, attempts to manoeuvre Jack Mason upstairs to an administrative
position.
Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 2/12/70
Canberra 2/12/70
Melbourne & VIC regional 4/12/70
Brisbane & QLD regional 4/12/70
|

Ep. 9: Nick Tate and Jeff Ashby |
10. When All The Bets Were Off
Georgina.......Cornelia Frances
Jane.......Jane Dimmett
Emily.......Sally Taylor
Roger.......Dean Alexander
Script.......Tony Morphett
Director.......Frank Arnold
Synopsis: The Mason family power struggle takes a surprising turn when
Jack Mason agrees to hand over the daily running of their paper ‘The
Standard’ to his three sons. However, his apparent retirement leaves them
with little alternative but to compete with each other. Can they trust
each other?
Notes: Final episode with John Tate as Jack Mason.
Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 9/12/70
Canberra 9/12/70
Melbourne & VIC regional 11/12/70
Brisbane & QLD regional 11/12/70
|

John Tate and Nick Tate |
SERIES 2
11. Dead Man's Chair
Script.......Tony Morphett
Director.......Alan Burke
Synopsis: Following the death of Jack Mason in a plane crash, the family
power struggle reaches a climax as the three brothers, David, John and
Peter, compete for supremacy in the Mason Corporation.
Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 14/7/71
Canberra 14/7/71
Melbourne & VIC regional 2/8/71
Brisbane & QLD regional 2/8/71
|

Ron Graham and Ben Gabriel |
12. The Killing Ground
Franki Halliday.......Kerry Maguire
Tranh Dinh Quang.......Rick Scully
Script.......Tony Morphett
Director.......Eric Tayler
Synopsis: Franki Halliday, a staff reporter on the Mason's newspaper
The Standard,
returns war-weary after three months as a prisoner of the Viet Cong. She
overcomes her fatigue to write at length of her harrowing experiences. Her
unfolding story contains a few surprises which the Masons consider would
be unwise to publish, but Franki is determined to tell the whole truth.
One of the surprises is that she is pregnant by her captor.
Notes: Tony Morphett won a Penguin award for Scriptwriting (1971) for this
episode. Morphett was convinced that the lead role was ‘unplayable’, but
Director Eric Tayler suggested Kerry Maguire; Morphett remembered seeing
her earlier in a Riptide episode, and she got the part.
Airdate:
Sydney
& NSW regional 21/7/71
Canberra 21/7/71
Melbourne & VIC
regional
9/8/71
Brisbane & QLD
regional
9/8/71
|

Ep. 12: Director Eric Tayler and Kerry
Maguire |
13. The Coorabungle Deposit
Bill Jarvis.......Ken Goodlet
Morton.......Alfred Sandor
Ken.......Shane Porteous
Selma.......Pat McDonald
Script.......Ron Harrison
Synopsis: The mining game gets rough when a predominantly American owned
international company 'jumps' the claim of lone Australian prospector Bill
Jarvis.
Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 28/7/71
Canberra 28/7/71
Melbourne & VIC regional 16/8/71
Brisbane & QLD regional 16/8/71
|
|
14. Corrida For A Stunt Man
Jill Campbell.......Rowena Wallace
Bob Campbell.......Rod Mullinar
Harry Mann.......Allan Lander
Leversen.......Gavin Hamilton
Script.......Tony Morphett
Director.......Frank Arnold
Synopsis: Bob Campbell, a stuntman for 15 years, nearly died when his
supporting rope broke as he jumped from a high cliff. After many months in
hospital, he agrees to a filmed comeback for the Mason's television
programme 'Making Them Tick'. The documentary sets out to find what makes
Campbell 'tick', and Patricia Mason, as the reporter on the show, has the
unenviable task of pursuing a taunting line of questioning. Campbell
progresses through several stunts to the point where he must face his
'moment of truth' and prove that he
has not lost his skill and courage by repeating the stunt which put him
hospital. The film director is a callous man who
is concerned less with the stuntman's safety than with making a
spectacular programme.
Airdate:
Sydney
& NSW regional 4/8/71
Canberra 4/8/71
Melbourne & VIC
regional
23/8/71
Brisbane &
QLD regional 23/8/71
|

Pat Bishop |
15. Who Wants A Bridge?
Lydia Fish.......Kirrily Nolan
Frank Benson.......Peter Gwynne
Tim
Searle.......Don Barkham
Waldo.......David Cameron
Gail Potter.......Jennifer West
Mrs. Palmer.......Colleen Clifford
Janie.......Virginia Vagg
Script.......Pat Flower
Director.......Brian Bell
Synopsis: The People's Environment Program, a radical group dominated by
women's lib supporters, protests on behalf of an elderly pensioner whose
home will be demolished when the local council builds a new bridge. David
Mason seems to be supporting them to favour his own interests.
Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 11/8/71
Canberra 11/8/71
Melbourne & VIC regional 30/8/71
Brisbane &
QLD regional 30/8/71
Adelaide &
SA regional 6/9/71
|

Kevin Miles and Owen Weingott |
16. Detour To Power
Matt Dawson.......Peter Adams
Helen Dawson.......Fay Kelton
Barney Dawson.......Tom Farley
Douglas Harvey.......Max Meldrum
Bob
Thomson.......Max Osbiston
TV interviewer.......Jim Smillie
Phillips.......Dennis Lloyd
Script.......Peter Schreck & Glyn Davies
Director.......Frank Arnold
Synopsis: Matt Dawson is a high-powered and often outspoken union
official. He faces a conflict of interest between his professional and
personal obligations when his father is involved in an industrial dispute.
Airdate:
Sydney & NSW
regional 18/8/71
Canberra 18/8/71
Melbourne & VIC
regional
6/9/71
Brisbane &
QLD regional 6/9/71
Adelaide &
SA regional 13/9/71
|

Ep. 16: Peter Adams and Fay Kelton |
17. Nothing Personal
Robert
French.......Noel Trevarthen
Jenny Farmer.......Jill Perryman
Biddy.......Ruth Cracknell
George Madden.......Moray Powell
Script.......Alan Burke
Director.......Alan Burke
Producer.......Alan burke
Synopsis: When former musical comedy star Jenny Farmer returns fresh from
triumphant dramatic performances overseas to play the title role in
Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, can she convince the local theatre critics
that she is indeed as great as her reputation? When she is panned by the
critics, including George Madden of ‘The Standard’, she sues for libel.
Notes: Singer Jill Perryman's
first appearance in a dramatic role for television. Features two original
songs composed by scriptwriter Alan Burke with music by Peter Stannard.
Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 25/8/71
Canberra 25/8/71
Melbourne & VIC regional 13/9/71
Brisbane &
QLD regional 13/9/71
Adelaide &
SA regional 20/9/71
|

Ep. 17: Jill Perryman |
18. Whatever Happened To Jamie Brooks?
Jamie Brooks.......Gerard Maguire
Hermann Friedhof.......Keith Lee
Dr. Loftus.......Max Phipps
Detective.......Ross Higgins
Harold.......Fred ‘Cul’ Cullen
Jim Collins.......Brian Anderson
Warder.......Gordon Piper
Mrs. Brooks.......Janie Stewart
Script.......Tony Morphett
Director.......Brian Bell
Executive Producer.......Alan Burke
Synopsis: After he shot General Rahim, the visiting Cathanese Head of
State, Jamie Brooks was arrested. A psychiatrist found him unfit to plead,
and he was sent to the security section of Lionelmore Psychiatric
Hospital. However, Jamie would prefer to stand trial, as he considers
his curent situation is serving a life sentence without a trial, and he now seeks
support from the Masons to have his case re-opened. When a trial is not
forthcoming he escapes, heads for Sydney and murders his wife after
holding her hostage in a siege at her home.
Notes: Sequel to the events featured in episode 7 'Second Pressure'.
Airdate:
Sydney
& NSW regional 1/9/71
Canberra 1/9/71
Melbourne & VIC
regional
20/9/71
Brisbane &
QLD regional 20/9/71
Adelaide &
SA regional 27/9/71
|

Ep. 18: Keith Lee, Gerard Maguire and Max
Phipps |
19. Two Reds Don't Make A White
Tom Fenwick.......Tom Oliver
Budeniev.......Jeff Ashby
Colleen.......Dawn Lake
Vashilev.......Henry Heydeman
Script.......Ron Harrison
Director.......Frank Arnold
Synopsis: A defecting Russian seaman, who claims to have been the
librarian and ship's security officer on a visiting Soviet freighter, and
a one-time captain in the KGB, seeks political asylum in Australia. He
offers to give his story exclusively to the Masons, provided they agree to his
conditions. Tom Fenwick reports his story of the Russian suppression in
Czechoslovakia and Hungarian resistance.
Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 8/9/71
Canberra 8/9/71
Melbourne & VIC regional 27/9/71
Brisbane &
QLD regional 27/9/71
Adelaide &
SA regional 4/10//71
|

Ep. 19: Dawn Lake |
20. Countdown
Sir Warren Tasker.......Ron Haddrick
Kidnapper.......Denny Lawrence
Young girl.......Georgina West
Script.......Bob Ellis
Director.......Frank Arnold
Synopsis: One angry young man believes that by adhering to their policies
of planned obsolescence, the motor car manufacturers are more responsible
for the road carnage than the State Government will admit. He is
determined that the State Government should introduce road safety reforms,
and to gain publicity he kidnaps David Mason.
Airdate:
Sydney
& NSW regional 15/9/71
Canberra 15/9/71
Melbourne & VIC
regional
4/10/71
Brisbane &
QLD regional 4/10/71
Adelaide &
SA regional 11/10/71
|

Tony Ward |
21. Full Circle
Walter
McGarren Jnr........John Meillon
Tom Fenwick.......Tom Oliver
Walter McGarren Snr........Nat Levison
Script.......Tony Morphett
Synopsis: Unk Martell helps to compile a pilot programme for Channel 6's
projected series of retrospective documentaries, and his subject is the
once wealthy and powerful boss of the Sydney underworld in the 1930's - Walter McGarren. Unk has a special reason for being involved - as a young police
reporter, he exposed McGarren's illegal activities and was the victim of a
brutal bashing. The proposed new documentary will not only expose McGarren's
criminal past, but will probably destroy his highly respectable son. The
Masons have to weigh the value of a good story against a man's happiness.
Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 22/9/71
Canberra 22/9/71
Melbourne & VIC regional 11/10/71
Brisbane &
QLD regional 11/10/71
Adelaide &
SA regional 18/10/71
|

Ben Gabriel and Ron Graham |
22. Man In The Middle
Marta.......Anne Lucas
Morton.......Alfred Sandor
Stefan
Kubelik.......Louis Wishart
Script.......Tony Morphett
Synopsis: Inventor Stefan Kubelik makes a radical invention, a
pollution-free high performance engine that could throw the automotive
industry into chaos. As a result, he becomes the object of a murder
attempt and is catapulted into the world of industrial espionage.
Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 29/9/71
Canberra 29/9/71
Melbourne
& VIC regional
18/10/71
Brisbane & QLD regional 18/10/71
|

Ben Gabriel, Ron Graham and Nick Tate |
23. A Half Tone Block Is Black And
White
Const. Sam Patterson.......Ben Blakeney
Tom Fenwick.......Tom Oliver
Mavis Patterson.......Carole Skinner
Script.......Bob Ellis & Ben Blakeney
Synopsis: An Aboriginal policeman, Const. Sam Patterson, is assigned to
maintain order at a demonstration planned for the arrival of a South
African cricket team in Sydney. How and why is the life and future of a
man of little influence affected by a powerful business empire such as
that of the Masons?
Notes: Script co-written by Aboriginal
actor Ben Blakeney.
Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 6/10/71
Canberra 6/10/71
Melbourne
& VIC regional
25/10/71
Brisbane & QLD regional 25/10/7
|

Tony Ward and Owen Weingott |